ISLAMABAD, Feb 7 (APP): Minister for Law Zahid Hamid and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb in a joint press conference said that recommendations for electoral reforms have been prepared with consensus by the Parliamentary Committee.
The Federal Cabinet today discussed Electoral Reforms in its meeting that was held today with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the chair.
The Law Minister said the Sub-Committee of the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms would mull over required constitutional amendments before presentation of the reforms to the Parliament for necessary legislation.
Giving details, he said the recommendations envisage total financial, administrative and functional autonomy for the Election Commission of Pakistan. The Commission would be empowered to take disciplinary action against officials deputed from other departments and ministries for election purpose.
The Commission would be required to prepare a comprehensive action plan for polls six months ahead of elections to seek input and objections from the political parties and candidates. A formal complaint system would be introduced to lodge complaints about malpractices before elections and their redressal.
Votes would be counted and result compiled at the polling station and Form-14 containing results would be transmitted to the Returning Officer and the Election Commission through a mobile application to ensure prompt transmission of results.
In case victory margin is less than five percent or ten thousand votes then the losing candidate can demand recounting there and then and recounting would be mandatory.
A uniform system of printing of ballot papers would be introduced.
Under the reforms package, name of a citizen would be automatically registered as a voter once he is issued a computerized national identity card.
Special measures would be undertaken to encourage enlistment of women voters in case there is difference of more than ten percent in the number of male and female votes.
APP/Sohail/VNS Islamabad
